{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T20:01:42Z","timestamp":1782417702123,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":7,"publisher":"STEF92 Technology","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2024,11,15]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>The transition to paperless management in municipalities is an essential step in achieving the goals of environmental economics and sustainability. To assess the benefits of such a transition and find weaknesses, the municipality of Liepaja (Latvia), in cooperation with the municipalities of Vila Nova de Poiares (Portugal) and Mielec (Poland), implemented a joint project.\nThe present research evaluated the financial benefits of switching to paperless management as well as the benefits of training municipal employees to improve their digital skills. The research analysed and compared data collected in all three municipalities within one year. The research focused on the volume of paper consumed, the reduction in toner costs during the year and the effectiveness of training provided to municipal employees. Based on a previously conducted survey on self-assessment of municipal employees' digital skills, the training aimed to develop and implement appropriate courses to improve employees' digital skills and change their attitudes and habits.\nThe research applied a combined approach, incorporating elements of both quantitative and qualitative methods. The specific amounts of paper consumption and toner costs in each of the three countries analysed were calculated using financial data from local governments. Qualitative methods were used to interview municipal employees and get an idea of the practical impact of implementing electronic governance. A survey of municipal employees was also conducted after completing the courses.\nThe research developed recommendations for other municipalities in all three countries to improve employees' digital skills and reduce paper and toner costs.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.5593\/sgem2024\/5.1\/s21.67","type":"proceedings-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,4]],"date-time":"2024-12-04T12:27:54Z","timestamp":1733315274000},"page":"537-544","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["FINANCIAL BENEFITS OF IMPLEMENTING PAPERLESS MANAGEMENT IN MUNICIPALITIES"],"prefix":"10.5593","volume":"24","author":[{"given":"Lilita","family":"Abele","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Liepaja University, Circular Economy Centre","place":["Latvia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Baiba","family":"Rivza","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies","place":["Latvia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Linda","family":"Alksne","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Liepaja University, Circular Economy Centre","place":["Latvia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Peteris","family":"Rivza","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies","place":["Latvia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Una","family":"Libkovska","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ventspils University of Applied Sciences","place":["Latvia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"3602","reference":[{"key":"ref=1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[1] Saxena, K. B. (1996). Re-engineering public administration in developing countries. Long Range Planning, 29(5), 703-711.","DOI":"10.1016\/0024-6301(96)00064-7"},{"key":"ref=2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[2] Bovens, M., & Zouridis, S. (2002). From street-level to system-level bureaucracies: how information and communication technology is transforming administrative discretion and constitutional control. Public administration review, 62(2), 174-184.","DOI":"10.1111\/0033-3352.00168"},{"key":"ref=3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[3] Hood, C., & Lodge, M. (2004). Competency, bureaucracy, and public management reform: A comparative analysis. Governance, 17(3), 313-333.","DOI":"10.1111\/j.0952-1895.2004.00248.x"},{"key":"ref=4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[4] ????????????, ?. (2018). M. Lipsky (1980), Street-Level Bureaucracy: The Dilemmas of the Individual in Public Service, Russell Sage Foundation, New York. ????????? ????????, 9, 133-136.","DOI":"10.12681\/sp.15989"},{"key":"ref=5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[5] Barrett, S. M. (2020). Implementation studies: time for a revival?. In Making Policy Happen (pp. 18-27). Routledge.","DOI":"10.4324\/9781003060697-4"},{"key":"ref=6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[6] Tummers, L., & Bekkers, V. (2014). Policy implementation, street-level bureaucracy, and the importance of discretion. Public Management Review, 16(4), 527-547.","DOI":"10.1080\/14719037.2013.841978"},{"key":"ref=7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"[7] Rastoropov, S. V., Azarkhin, A. V., & Petrogradskaya, A. A. (2021). Staff Potential of Municipal Service in Digital Conditions. In Digital Economy and the New Labor Market: Jobs, Competences and Innovative HR Technologies (pp. 470-476). Springer International Publishing.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-030-60926-9_60"}],"event":{"name":"24th SGEM International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference 2024","theme":"Earth and Planetary Sciences","location":"Albena, Bulgaria","acronym":"SGEM2024","number":"24","sponsor":["SGEM WORLD SCIENCE (SWS) Scholarly Society, Austria"],"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,1]]},"end":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,7]]}},"container-title":["SGEM International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference\ufffd EXPO Proceedings","24th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference Proceedings SGEM 2024, Ecology, Economics, Education and Legislation, Vol 24, Issue 5.1"],"original-title":[],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T19:28:56Z","timestamp":1782415736000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/epslibrary.at\/items\/8ba2b5f0-01c0-43ea-bbbf-6ddda9ea2bc8\/financial-benefits-of-implementing-paperless-management-in-municipalities"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,11,15]]},"references-count":7,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5593\/sgem2024\/5.1\/s21.67","relation":{},"ISSN":["1314-2704"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1314-2704","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,11,15]]}}}